Wrestlers open against Worthington

The SJA Saints wrestling team begins its season on Thursday, Nov. 29 when the boys host the Worthington Trojans in the St. James High School Gym. JV action gets underway at 6 pm, with varsity wrestling starting at approximately 7:30 pm.

The SJA Saints wrestling team begins its season on Thursday, Nov. 29 when the boys host the Worthington Trojans in the St. James High School Gym. JV action gets underway at 6 pm, with varsity wrestling starting at approximately 7:30 pm.

The Saints return an experienced and very deep team according to Head Coach Gene Hildebrandt.

Wrestle-offs have determined the opening starting lineup for the Saints. Based on those matches the starting lineup for the meet against Worthington will be:

106 lbs. Mario Gracia, 10th grade

113 lbs. Cody Hanson, 12th grade

120 lbs. Angel Zamarripa, 10th grade

126 lbs. Richy Soto, 12th grade

132 lbs. Sammy Guzman, 11th grade

138 lbs. Isaac Carreon, 12th grade

145 lbs. Kody Curry, 11th grade

152 lbs. Connor Engel, 11th grade

160 lbs. Zack Gleiter, 12th grade

170 lbs. Ryan Westman, 12th grade

182 lbs. Colin Hoppe 10th grade

195 lbs. Devin Wolle, 12th grade

220 lbs. Adrian Torres, 11th grade

HWT Victor Torres, 12th grade

This is an experienced team that’s also balanced with many newcomers getting their first shot at significant varsity wrestling time.

Four returing Saints wrestled at the State Tournament last year. They are Cody Hanson, Richy Soto (who placed at State), Isaac Carreon and Devin Wolle.

Ryan Westman and Victor Torres both fell a match short of making it to State last year, so they have a chance to improve this year. Zack Gleiter is another Saint who was wrestling his best late in the season last year.

The preseason rankings done by the Guillotine are out and as a team the Saints are ranked just outside the top 12.

Devin Wolle is ranked eighth at 195 lbs. Victor Torres is ranked fourth at heavyweight. These ranking do not necessarily indicate at what weight a wrestler will compete at during the season.

Hanson is likely to reach 100 career wins this season. He starts the year with 87 career wins and went 36-8 last year. Carreon starts the year with 74 career wins. He went 25-8 last year, so Isaac’s got a shot at reaching 100 career wins. Hanson has 36 career pins and Carreon has 30 pins. Ryan Westman is just behind them with 29 career pins.

After opening the season with the Worthington match on Thursday, the Saints have a big early test on Saturday as they wrestle in a four team tournament at Mankato West.

Page 2 of 2 - In addition to wrestling against Mankato West and Byron, the other team in the meet is Wabasso/Red Rock Central, which starts the season off being fourth ranked in Class A.